As much as relocating to another country can be an exciting adventure, it can also be a challenge. For teenagers, whose lives are already filled with uncertainty and change, moving to another country can be incredibly overwhelming. Moving means changing school, making new friends and re-establishing an identity. However, moving to a place like Amsterdam provides a smorgasbord of fun new experiences and opportunities for a young person who has a b ... more ...

Building a life as an expat is always a challenge – and being transgender can make everything more complicated. Pulling up roots and migrating to a famously liberal place like the Netherlands is a dream for many trans people facing persecution and discrimination elsewhere. However, living that dream means grappling with the difficulties of the expat life in general and obstacles particular to trans people all at once. The Netherlands isn’t a ... more ...

So you’ve made the choice to move to Amsterdam. Visa? Tick. Accommodation? Tick. Employment? Tick. Friends? Hmm… if you haven’t quite fallen into your crowd yet, do not despair! Amsterdam is a bustling international city attracting people from around the globe, and one of the most exciting parts of settling in here will be getting to know the fresh new faces who you will grow to call your friends. more ...

In 1992, as the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company (also known as Shell) prepared to celebrate its centenary, the wives of several senior expatriate employees felt that they too deserved recognition. These wives had made this success possible, after all. They had supported their partners each step of the way, adjusting family life as best they could to new and challenging territories, where oil was rich but creating a home was daunting. Their stories ... more ...

For expats who celebrate Christmas, being far away from friends and family can make the festivities feel somewhat muted, so it’s a good idea to create your own traditions in your new home. Here are ten ways to make the season special during your time in Amsterdam.

Decorate A Christmas Tree

What better way to create a homely, holiday feel in your new country than to put a cheerfully-decorated Christmas tree in the window? Vendors can b ... more ...

Having finished Boston University School of Management, I decided with a cycling friend to take a tour of Europe by bicycle for the summer of 1980. My friend cancelled at the last minute after months of planning, so I decided to go it alone. This summer trip turned into nearly a year and a half tour that included many Western European countries, Morocco and the UK. more ...

Fancy freaking yourself out? No need to miss out on a spook-fest while you are living in the Netherlands. Here are some creepy destinations to give you the shivers.

The Prison Gate Museum, The Hague

Just west of the Hofvijver, in the centre of The Hague, stands the foreboding Museum de Gevangenpoort, a thirteenth century castle gate which later became a prison. Its medieval jailers used torture to force confessions, meted out sadis ... more ...